Almost one in four families across the UK will receive £324 from the UK Government this month as the latest cost of living payments are sent out from today. Some 689,000 families across Scotland can expect to receive the payment directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between November 8 and 23.
Over eight million households in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland who claimed qualifying means-tested benefits during the eligibility period will automatically receive £324 this month as part of £1,200 worth of direct help for households. There’s no need for anyone to apply for the second cost of living payment.
People claiming Tax Credits-only will receive the payment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between November 23 and 30. The payment reference on DWP recipients’ bank accounts will be their National Insurance number, followed by ‘DWP COL’. For HMRC recipients the payment reference will be ‘HMRC COLS’.
Commenting on the second instalment of the £650 cost of living payment, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “We understand that people are struggling and that is why we’ve consistently acted to ensure millions of low-income families are supported. We will continue to act with compassion as we navigate challenging global economic circumstances.
“As part of a wider £37 billion package of support, this latest £324 payment will help the most vulnerable people in our society who are worrying about their finances through the winter months.”
Minister for Scotland, John Lamont said: “This is another example of the many ways in which the UK Government is responding to the challenges associated with the rising cost of living. These are unprecedented times but our support package will help ease the burden for the most vulnerable this winter.”
The Government’s £1,200 support package contains £400 for energy bills that is being paid in monthly instalments to all domestic energy customers between now and March. As well as this, the £2,500 Energy Price Guarantee is ensuring people across the country pay significantly less for their energy bills, with a typical household saving around £700 this winter.
People living in park homes, canal boats or who pay their energy bills directly to their landlord as part of their tenancy agreement should receive the £400 by the end of the year - find out more here.
It also includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for 85 per cent of all UK households and the previous £326 cost of living payment made by DWP in July and by HMRC in September.
On top of this, nearly one in 10 people received the £150 disability payment in September, and a £300 addition to Winter Fuel Payments will go to over eight million pensioner households from now until January 13, 2023.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said: “Prices are rising across the world as we manage the aftershock of Covid-19 and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. We recognise that families back home are struggling, which is why we’ve taken decisive action to hold down energy bills this winter, and provided hundreds of pounds of cash support for each vulnerable household.
“As part of that support, over eight million vulnerable households - almost a quarter of families in the UK - will automatically receive a second cost of living payment worth £324 in their bank account from today.
“And while we can’t completely protect people from rising prices, my priority at the upcoming Autumn Statement will be to protect the poorest in society as we take the tough decisions necessary to fix our public finances.”
Those eligible to receive the second cost of living payment between November 8-23 include people on:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Tax Credits - must be claimed alongside one other DWP benefit in this list otherwise payment will be made between November 23 and 30
To be eligible, claimants must have been claiming and entitled to a payment between August 26 and September 25, with the exception of pensioner households, who may be able to have a new Pension Credit claim backdated.
They have until December 18 to submit a new claim for Pension Credit, which could entitle them to the £324 cost of living payment. Anyone can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator here or by calling the freephone claim line on 0800 99 1234.
£324 cost of living payments across Scotland
Number of families due to receive payments before November 23:
- Aberdeen North - 13,300
- Aberdeen South - 7,700
- Airdrie and Shotts - 13,400
- Alyn and Deeside - 9,200
- Angus - 11,000
- Argyll and Bute - 9,600
- Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock - 14,100
- Banff and Buchan - 9,500
- Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk - 10,600
- Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross - 7,600
- Central Ayrshire - 12,700
- Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill - 14,100
- Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East - 11,600
- Dumfries and Galloway - 12,700
- Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale - 9,300
- Dundee East - 11,400
- Dundee West - 14,700
- Dunfermline and West Fife - 11,100
- East Dunbartonshire - 5,100
- East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow - 11,200
- East Lothian - 11,000
- East Renfrewshire - 7,300
- Edinburgh East - 12,800
- Edinburgh North and Leith - 11,800
- Edinburgh South - 6,900
- Edinburgh South West - 11,000
- Edinburgh West - 8,000
- Glasgow Central - 18,500
- Glasgow East - 20,900
- Glasgow North - 10,600
- Glasgow North East - 20,300
- Glasgow North West - 16,100
- Glasgow South - 13,800
- Glasgow South West - 18,900
- Glenrothes - 14,600
- Inverclyde - 13,300
- Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey - 11,000
- Kilmarnock and Loudoun - 14,400
- Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath - 14,700
- Lanark and Hamilton East - 13,400
- Linlithgow and East Falkirk - 14,500
- Livingston - 14,100
Midlothian - 10,300
- Moray - 9,200
- Motherwell and Wishaw - 15,500
- Na h-Eileanan an Iar - 2,900
- North Ayrshire and Arran - 14,800
- North East Fife - 6,300
- Ochil and South Perthshire - 11,000
- Orkney and Shetland - 3,600
- Paisley and Renfrewshire North - 10,800
- Paisley and Renfrewshire South - 13,000
- Perth and North Perthshire - 10,600
- Ross, Skye and Lochaber - 6,500
- Rutherglen and Hamilton West - 16,300
- Stirling - 8,700
- West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine - 5,100
- West Dunbartonshire - 15,600
A full list of payments by parliamentary constituency can be found on GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
READ NEXT
- New Winter Fuel Payment video aims to help more people understand who qualifies for up to £600
Full list of cost of living and heating payments due before Christmas
£324 cost of living payment date for people claiming Tax Credits confirmed for this month
Older people urged to claim Pension Credit before next month to qualify for extra £324 payment
DWP confirms 'no plans' to introduce pro rata Winter Fuel Payment for older people
